Vacuum blender

Abstract

A vacuum blender having the ability to reduce oxidation of ingredients for a more nutrient-rich product. The blender includes a container for holding ingredients to be blended, the container being open at a top end and having blender blades at a lower end, a lid for covering the open end of the container, and a base having a motor contained therein for driving the blender blades, an interface for coupling with the blender blades of the container, a vacuum system for effecting a vacuum to the container and electronic controls for operating the motor and vacuum system. The vacuum system is configured to couple with the lid to draw a vacuum from the top of the container when activated.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A vacuum blender system comprising:
 a container for holding ingredients to be blended, the container being open at a top end; 
 a rotatable blade having a central body and a plurality of blending arms extending from the body, the rotatable blade being positioned at a center of a bottom surface of the container and attached to a shaft which passes through an opening in the bottom surface; 
 a lid configured to completely cover the open end of the container, the lid having a first aperture on a first surface of the lid and a second aperture on a second surface of the lid, the first and second apertures being fluidly connected by an air passage through the lid; 
 a base unit comprising:
 a motor housed within a first housing section of the base unit; 
 an interface positioned on an outer surface of the first housing section of the base unit for engaging the bottom surface of the container during use, the interface having a connector driven by the motor and configured to couple with the shaft when the container is properly positioned on the interface; 
 a second housing section extending upward from the first housing section and configured to engage the lid during use; 
 a vacuum system for effecting a vacuum within the container, the vacuum system comprising a vacuum pump and an air line connected by one end to the pump and having a connector attached at an opposing end, wherein the connector is positioned within the second housing section and couples to the first aperture of the lid when engaged by the second housing section; and 
 a control panel having a plurality of inputs on an outer surface of the base unit for controlling operation of the motor and vacuum system; 
 
 an enclosure attached to the base and comprising a plurality of panels which together surround the container when positioned on the interface of the base, the enclosure further comprising a handle attached to at least one of the plurality of panels to move the at least one of the plurality of panels and provide access to an interior of the enclosure. 
 
     
     
       2. The vacuum blender of  claim 1 , further comprising a hollow handle attached to the container and a port within the lid fluidly coupled to the air passage for draining condensation from the air passage. 
     
     
       3. The vacuum blender of  claim 1 , further comprising a safety switch for detecting when the lid is properly secured to the container. 
     
     
       4. The vacuum blender of  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum system reduces a volume of air in the container to prevent oxidation. 
     
     
       5. The vacuum blender of  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure is removable from the base. 
     
     
       6. The vacuum blender of  claim 5 , wherein the enclosure friction fits to a portion of the base. 
     
     
       7. The vacuum blender of  claim 1 , wherein the control panel comprises preset inputs for the vacuum system. 
     
     
       8. The vacuum blender of  claim 1 , wherein the control panel comprises preset inputs for the motor. 
     
     
       9. The vacuum blender of  claim 7 , wherein the control panel comprises preset inputs for the vacuum system and the motor. 
     
     
       10. The vacuum blender of  claim 1 , wherein the central body is within a plane and the rotatable blade comprises four blending arms equally spaced about the central body with only one blending arm being entirely coplanar with the central body. 
     
     
       11. The vacuum blender of  claim 10 , wherein two blending arms extend in a first direction relative to a plane of the central body and one blending arm extends in a second direction relative to the plane of the central body, the first direction being opposite to the second direction. 
     
     
       12. The vacuum blender of  claim 1 , further comprising a liquid seal about the shaft to prevent fluid from exiting the container through the opening in the bottom surface. 
     
     
       13. The vacuum blender of  claim 12 , wherein the liquid seal comprises at least three points of contact with the shaft. 
     
     
       14. The vacuum blender of  claim 13 , wherein the liquid seal is comprised of a fluoro-rubber silicone blend material. 
     
     
       15. The vacuum blender of  claim 14 , wherein the fluoro-rubber silicone blend comprises a FKM silicone blend. 
     
     
       16. A vacuum blender system comprising:
 a container for holding ingredients to be blended, the container being open at a top end; 
 a rotatable blade having a central body and a plurality of blending arms extending from the body, the rotatable blade being positioned at a center of a bottom surface of the container and attached to a shaft which passes through the bottom surface; 
 a lid configured to completely cover the open end of the container, the lid having a first aperture on a first surface of the lid and a second aperture on a second surface of the lid, the first and second apertures being fluidly connected by an air passage through the lid; and 
 a base unit comprising:
 a motor housed within a first housing section of the base unit; 
 an interface positioned on an outer surface of the first housing section for engaging the bottom surface of the container during use, the interface having a connector driven by the motor and configured to couple with the shaft when the container is properly positioned on the interface; 
 a second housing section extending upward from the first housing section and configured to engage the lid during use; 
 a vacuum system for effecting a vacuum within the container, the vacuum system comprising a vacuum pump and an air line connected by one end to the pump and having a connector attached at an opposing end, wherein the connector is positioned within the second housing section and couples to the first aperture of the lid when engaged by the second housing section; and 
 a control panel having a plurality of inputs on outer surface of the base unit for controlling operation of the motor and vacuum system; 
 
 an enclosure frictionally attached to the base unit to completely enclose the container when positioned on the interface. 
 
     
     
       17. The vacuum blender of  claim 16 , wherein the enclosure comprises a plurality of panels which together surround the container when positioned on the interface of the base. 
     
     
       18. The vacuum blender of  claim 17 , wherein the enclosure further comprises a handle attached to at least one of the plurality of panels to move the at least one of the plurality of panels and provide access to an interior of the enclosure.